General Aviation
News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.
Environment
Aviation Industry Groups Object to Santa Clara 100LL Ban
Aviation groups are protesting the decision by California’s Santa Clara County to ban the sale of 100LL aviation gasoline at two GA airports.
Training and Workforce
Redbird Flight Simulations Plots $2.2M Expansion
Austin, Texas-based Redbird Flight Simulations is expanding its footprint with a new 50,000-sq-ft facility in nearby Kyle.
Aircraft
Textron Aviation Delivers Cessna 206s to West Point
The U.S. Military Academy at West Point will use the Cessna 206 Turbo Stationair HD airplanes for its cadet aviation training program.
Rotorcraft
MD Helicopters Partners With UAV Leasing for Air Taxis
Helicopter OEM and leasing company teams on air taxi, border patrol services.
Rotorcraft
Coast Guard MH-65 Crew Flies Dramatic Niagara Falls Rescue
A crew from Air Station Detroit was called to extract a woman from a car in the Niagara River near American Falls.
Regulations and Government
FAA Issues New 5G Interference Airworthiness Directives
New FAA rules would prohibit certain aircraft operations where 5G interference is encountered or likely.
Rotorcraft
Sikorsky Delivers First S-70M Civil Black Hawk
A new-production, third-generation Black Hawk is now available for civl and parapublic customers with FAA restricted category certification.
Rotorcraft
Perot Donates Bell 407 To Dallas Police
Texas real estate developer Ross Perot, Jr. has donated a Bell 407 GX to the Dallas police department.
Rotorcraft
Saudis Place Order for 26 More Airbus Helicopters
The Helicopter Company (THC) of Saudi Arabia has ordered 20 light twin H145 D3 five-bladed models and six ACH160 medium twins from Airbus.
EAA Membership Surpasses 250,000 Mark
Approaching its 70th anniversary, EAA has seen its membership grow by 25 percent over the past five years, surpassing the 250,000 mark.
Rotorcraft
Beijing Police Orders First Leonardo AW189s for China
Leonardo has sold its first super-medium AW189 helicopters into the Chinese market.
Aircraft
AIN Announces 2021 Top Flight Award Winners
The second annual AIN Top Flight Awards honor excellence and innovation in business aviation and related fields.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
Helicopter lessor LCI Acquires Nova Aviation Capital
LCI's Nova acquisition boosts its twin-engine rotary fleet to more than 140.
Rotorcraft
Bristow's Leonardo Fleet Tops 500,000 Hours
Leonardo marks Bristow milestone, first Africa sale for AW169.
Rotorcraft
Latest Ka-32 Makes First Flight
Updated Russian coaxial helicopter aimed at firefighting market.
Accidents
NTSB: Aircraft Accident Fatalities Decreased in 2020
Fatalities from general aviation aircraft accidents decreased overall last year amid broad pandemic-induced reductions in flight activity, the NTSB said.
Rotorcraft
Bell Bags New Orders At European Rotors
Bell announced orders for seven new aircraft at the recently concluded European Rotors conference in Cologne.
Rotorcraft
HAI Develops New Risk-assessment Tools
HAI has partnered with NGFT Solutions to develop new risk assessment tools tailored to the rotorcraft industry.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Delivers Five-blade H145 for Offshore Wind Use
Germany's HTM Helicopters will fly the first Airbus H145D3 for the offshore wind market.
Fuel
Air Ambulance Company Partners with P&WC on SAF
Pratt & Whitney Canada and ADAC Leftrettung are partnering on an SAF test program for air medical helicopters.
Rotorcraft
AAMS: New Air Medical Reimbursement Rules Are Unfair
The air ambulance lobby charges federal rules for the new "no surprises" medical billing act favor insurers and sues to block implementation.
Engines
P&WC Expanding Carbon Offset Program To Helicopters
Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) is expanding its year-old carbon offset service to include operators of the company’s helicopter engines.
Rotorcraft
HAI Strengthens Ties with European Helicopter Association
EHA and HAI already have combined efforts on several projects.
Aircraft
Cirrus Aircraft Opens Arizona, Texas Facilities
Cirrus Aircraft held a grand opening of its Aircraft Innovation Centers in Chandler, Arizona, and McKinney, Texas.
Rotorcraft
Bell Delivers 400th Model 429 Light Twin
Bell marks 400th Model 429 with delivery to Canadian Coast Guard.
Aircraft
EASA Certification for CityAirbus NextGen Expected in 2025
Airbus says public acceptance will be key to the future of urban air mobility and eVTOL aircraft like its CityAirbus NextGen.
Regulations and Government
KIAL Kuwait Takes Third HEMS Bell 429
Bell announced the sale of a Bell 429 to Kuwait International Aircraft Leasing for use by the Ministry of Health.
Rotorcraft
Helicopter OEMs Offer GI Bill Training, Scholarships
Bell and MD Helicopters recently announced financial assistance for rotorcraft students.
Maintenance and Modifications
SAEI and Thales Sign MRO Agreement
Saudi company SAEI is seeking to enhance its MRO offer by working with Thales specialists.
Aircraft
Leonardo AW609 Tiltrotor Takes Bow in Dubai
Leonardo's civil tiltrotor, on display at Expo 2020 and at the Dubai Airshow, should complete flight testing in August 2022.
